Taylor Brown excited to return to Durfee as head football coach

Persistence has helped being Taylor Brown back home.Brown, a 2001 graduate of Durfee High School, was named the head football coach of the Hilltoppers on Thursday, replacing Lajhon Jones, who resigned earlier this spring after three seasons.

Brown, a 2001 graduate of Durfee High School, was named the head football coach of the Hilltoppers on Thursday, replacing Lajhon Jones, who resigned earlier this spring after three seasons.

Brown is the fourth head coach of the Toppers since longtime coach Steve Winarski was not rehired back in 2008.

Brown applied for the head coaching job each year a new coach was chosen.

"It's my fourth time," Brown said. "It's always been my dream job. I've worked in the district for eight or nine years and I've always wanted to have this job. It shows you should never give up on your goals."

Brown said he was notified Thursday that he was the man for the job and has already met with the players.

"I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm excited about the opportunity and I'm ready to run with it.

"We have a great group of kids coming back. I met with the kids this afternoon and we had a good turnout. I told them to meet me in the weight room Monday. Games are won in the weight room.

"I'm hungry. They're hungry. I told them we have to believe in the system and we have to believe in each other. We have to do the right things both on and off the field."

Durfee has lost 28 straight football games. The last victory the Toppers tasted came in the third week of the 2011 season when Durfee defeated Taunton 12-7.

Despite the lack of success on the field, Brown says he feels no pressure.

"I'm confident in the program," he said. "I think with a lot of hard work, we can turn things around."

In a statement released by the school, Durfee principal Paul Marshall stated, " “We are very excited to start a new chapter here at Durfee, creating a winning culture. Coach Brown has shown throughout his time coaching at Durfee, as well as his tenure as a teacher, that he brings the level of professionalism and high expectations that is necessary to make that goal a reality. We know that the school and community will rally around his efforts to support the program in the years to come.”

Brown has never been a head coach, but has years of experience as assistant coach with Bishop Connolly, Case, Portsmouth and Durfee.

According to the release, Brown recently received his Master's degree in educational administration and is completing his administrator apprenticeship as the Kuss Middle School vice principal. Upon completion of his apprenticeship in June, Brown will return to his position of physical education teacher, assigned to Durfee High School.

Mike Thomas is the sports editor of The Herald News. Email him at mthomas@heraldnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @NostraThomasHN